The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-02
SMITH OR STRONG.

The heaviest snow OF tho winter caush
mo at a little town on the Union Pacific
Travel on tho road was completely block
cd, and had to make myself as comfort
able rs possible at the village hotel.
l stood looking out Of tho window int
the snowy street, wondering whether sucl
a black looking place afforded any %iacilitie
for pastime or amusement. On the on
poaite side Of the way my eye caught tn,
name o. John Smith on a sign over til,
door Of a small grocery. Ismiled when .
saw the familiar name. One finds II every
whore. It belts the continent.
Shat must be Smith," I said to myself
as a man came to the door OF the store ant
looked out. Having nothing else to Id
l took a good look at him. He was a little
old man, gray.headed and weazen.iaced
Something in his appearance aroused {
sudden interest. Where had I seen him !
Finally it all flashed upon mo in 9
moment. Twenty years before I had
known this John Smith in, one OF the
South Atlantic States. His name at thai
time was Edward Strong, and he was q
well-to.do country merchant, with a wife
and child. The Strong family seemed tc
be a happy n and ii there was a skele.
ton concealed in the house the
outside world did not know It. One nigh
Strong did not return home. His absence
was 30 remarkable that his vile sat ur
unit! morning waiting for him. Still the
missing man did not appear. At last q
party Of men started out to search 70,
him. On the river bank, not far from his
house, they found stroug's hat and cane,
The footprints leading to the water indi-
Gated that q struggle had occurred, o,
that Strong had simlessly walked round
aud round before throwing himself into
the river. Every effort was made to re-.
cover the body, and a reward was offered,
but without result. Nothing was ever
heard Of the missing merchant, and after
hoping against hope year after year, Mrs.
Strong gave up Ia despair, A nervous
fever carried her Of, and in a few weeks
ahe was followed by her child.
And now, alter twenty years, Edward
Strong stood before me masoueradinp AZ
John Smith. 1t was impossible to be mis-.
taken. The face, the figure, and certain
tricks OF gesture made me absolutely cor.
tain. ID .N
"Mr. Strong" said, walking up to him,
have you forgotten me-" V :
"You have made a mistake" he replied
calmly. "My name is John Smith, and I
do not think I ever saw you before."
Edward Strong" I broke out, II an
ready to swear to your face, your manner
and your voice. l knew you ten Year,
ago in Boomburg. When you disap.
peared I shared the grief OF your wife and
child, comforting them as we'll IS l could
In those day L nas your friend, and Il
you cen mako any reasonable explanation
Of your conduct will stand by you again.
A puzzled, panied look came over the
mans face. lie appeared to struggle with
some inward emotion, and then meeting
my fixed gaze, he said: -
:."You are evidently sincere in what YOU
say, sir but I have never borne the name
Of Strong. know nothing of Boomburg.
The people here will tell you who I an"
was silenced for the time. The mans
sublime assurance checked me.
"May tell you what became OF your
wife and child" l asked.
"My dear sir" was the response. "oi
course this annoys me, but as you seem
to. take the matter 30 much to heart YOU
may tell your little story. Come and sit
down by the stove."
There we're nc customers in the store,
and although l WAS choking with wrath i
proceeded to make the most Of the invita-.
lion. AS impressively So I could l told
my listener all about tho grief of his wife
after his strange disappearance, and how
abe and her little boy had gone to their
graves mourning for the man who had de.
serted them.
beats anything I ever heard" said the
alleged Smith; "very sad, indeed. Do YOU
think the fellow drowned himself, or was
he the victim Of robbers? Z"
His audacity amazed mo 80 that I could
hardly utter u word.
"How long have you lived here?" ]
asked abruptly.
"Ten years."
sand where did you live before2"
San Francisco. I came from there te
this place."
"And you can refer me 10 reputable
men in San Francisco who have known
you from boyhood up as John Smith ?''
ut would serve you right to say that i
is none OF your business" was the reply
"but | will say that I can give you lht
"amfo Of men who have known me since
49,"
"But that is only twenty years.ago,n
said. SNOW you are past fifty. II 20,
cannot make d showing back Of twent,
weary ago l am more than ever convinced
that you are Edward Strong"
The merchant rose from his chair, and
with the panied look that I had observed
before, said:
S"lt is useless to prolong the converse
ton. You are controlled by delusior
and it will not profit US 10 discuss it."
l started to 60, but when l reached th
door the alleged Smith called me back.
ut is showing again." he remarked
sand we are not likely to be disturbed.
have o great mind to tell you my history.
"That is right, Strong" said /, impu
sivoly, make a clean breast Of 1t. AS on
Of your Oldest friends l certainly shall nc
judge You harshly."
"My name is not strong" he answered.
quickly. II know nothing OF him and hi
affairs, but, nevertheless, l have a rattle
peculiar history"
II know nothing OF my childhood an
early manhood" he continued. "Whe
| first came to myself I was working as
deck.hard on a Mississippi river steam
boat"
"When you frat came to yourself"
interrupted.
Eyes, that is the best way to put i
They told me that I had aaked for leay
to work my paesage up the river. The
had picked me up in a swamp, and m
appearance showed that l had been wal
dering about for weeks, perhaps month
By allow degrees my mind grew stronge
and l was able to take care OF myself whe
we got to st. Louis. I found work an
saved my money, and after u while wer
to San FranciHco. Gradually l began I
remember scraps OF forgotten knowledge